Jo Cox murder suspect appears at Old Bailey and confirms name is Thomas Mair

The man accused of murdering Labour MP Jo Cox has appeared in court and confirmed his name as Thomas Mair. The 52-year-old made a brief appearance at the Old Bailey via videolink on 20 June to confirm his name after being arrested on suspicion of the shooting and stabbing of the MP for Batley and Spen.

At a previous hearing, Mair said his name was "death to traitors, freedom for Britain". At this hearing, the suspect simply replied: "yes I am" when asked if he is Thomas Mair.

Mair, from Birstall, is charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, and possession of an offensive weapon. He has been remanded in custody until 23 June, when he will appear at the same court for a preliminary hearing.

On the same day Mair appeared in court, MPs paid tribute to the 41-year-old mother of two following her death in the specially recalled parliament. All wearing a white rose to represent Yorkshire, the MPs attended a packed House of Commons to pay tribute to "one of the best" politicians in the UK.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "Last Thursday, Jo Cox was doing what all of us do, representing and serving the people who elected her. We have lost of our own and our society as a whole has lost one of our very best. She spent her time serving and campaigning for other people.

"The horrific attack that took her from us was an attack on democracy, and our whole country has been shocked and saddened by it. But in the days since, our country has also learnt something about the extraordinary strength and compassion of her political activism and beliefs.

"Jo Cox didn't just believe in loving her neighbour, she believed in loving her neighbour's neighbour. She saw a whole word as neighbours. She believed every life counted equally."